Greenwich boys tennis team beats New Canaan, remains unbeaten

David Fierro

Updated 11:35 pm, Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Zach Niklaus of Greenwich during his match against New Canaan's Tommy Worcester in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Niklaus defeated Worcester and Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Zach Niklaus of Greenwich during his match against New Canaan's Tommy Worcester in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Niklaus defeated Worcester and Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

New Canaan's Tommy Worcester during the match he lost to Zach Niklaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

New Canaan's Tommy Worcester during the match he lost to Zach Niklaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

New Canaan's Tommy Worcester during the match he lost to Zach Niklaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Zach Niklaus of Greenwich serves during his match against New Canaan's Tommy Worcester in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Niklaus defeated Worcester and Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

New Canaan's Tommy Worcester during the match he lost to Zach Niklaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Will Burger of New Canaan hits during his match against Blake Niehaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Will Burger of New Canaan hits during his match against Blake Niehaus of Greenwich in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Blake Niehaus of Greenwich hits against Will Burger of New Canaan in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

New Canaan boys tennis coach Dan Borgman during the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Blake Niehaus of Greenwich hits against Will Burger of New Canaan in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Blake Niehaus of Greenwich hits against Will Burger of New Canaan in the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Louis McKenzie of Greenwich during the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Devin McVeigh of New Canaan during the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Shaw Speer of Greenwich during the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Greenwich boys tennis coach E.J. Haskell during the boys high school tennis match between Greenwich High School and New Canaan High School at Greenwich, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Niklaus was embroiled in a match-deciding tiebreaker against Tommy Worcester of New Canaan at first singles, while Niehaus was fighting through a tough second set against Will Burger at No. 2. Determined to make it a clean sweep for their team in their toughest test of the season to date, Niklaus and Niehaus came out on top.

"We've played a couple of good teams to start the season and this win was a big confidence-builder for our team," Niehaus said. "I think we made a statement by taking out one of the top teams without losing a match."

Said GHS coach EJ Haskell: "This was the strongest team we've seen so far. It feels good to know we got that win under our belt."

While the Cardinals raised their record to 3-0, the Rams dropped to 1-3. A look at New Canaan's early season schedule shows why. They've already faced Greenwich, Staples and Ridgefield, a team many believe can challenge the Cardinals and Wreckers.

"I thought this was a great match," said Rams coach Dan Borgman, who has headed the tennis program at New Canaan for more than four decades. "Every match was competitive even though the scores may not have been that close."

Niklaus pulled out a 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 win over Worcester. After Worcester hit numerous winners in the first set, Niklaus changed his strategy.

"The second set I realized I needed to be more aggressive," said Niklaus, who like Niehaus, excels on the junior circuit. "My first serve percentage definitely increased in the second set, I came to the net more and was more aggressive."

Niklaus took control in the 10-point tiebreaker after trailing 3-2, winning six consecutive points.

"I had to keep focused because a 10-point tiebreaker is different than a full set," Niklaus said. "I focused on keeping the ball deep and moving him around."

Said Borgman: "Tommy was outstanding today. He played under control and fought back after being down 8-3 in the tiebreaker."

Niehaus was down a break early in the opening set of his match against Burger, but got a key hold to go up 5-4, then converted a break point to close out the set.

"It was a long match, so it was nice to pull out the win," Niehaus said. "The overall team match was very competitive."

In doubles action, the Cards' experienced No. 2 squad of sophomores Dickon Hollister and Chris Salisbury posted a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Jack Howard and Michael Hartnett. Hollister and Salisbury have teamed up since they were 4-year olds.

"We have great chemistry because we have known each other for so long," Salisbury said. "We know each other's signals and it just comes together easily for us."

"I'm a lefty, he's a righty and so far we are off to a great start," Hollister added.

Juniors Shaw Speer and Louis McKenzie, who are in their third year together as a doubles team, won at the No. 1 spot, 6-2, 6-4.

"This year, I've noticed they've added some finesse to their game and they're playing smarter," Haskell said. "They're really mixing it up out there."

"Everyone's improved from last year and we're all working on being more consistent," said Tasaki, who said he feels a lot less stress on the court these days. "I know where I'm going to college (Stony Brook), so this year I'm focusing solely tennis and it's working out for me."